Psychiatrist questions

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, my name's Tayla and I'm 20.

Firstly, sorry for posting a couple of times. I'm just new to these BB Forums, and I'm just trying to interact with people and try to support others any way I can, well I try to. Plus asking questions myself.

Anyway, my question is:

How would a Psychiatrist (I have one of my own who I'm happy and comfortable with) comfort a distressed person? So crying for example? I see my Psychiatrist on Telehealth which is basically Skype, and surprisingly I haven't cried in front of him yet, because I try to be strong and hide it although I tell him everything, more than my GP actually because I feel more comfortable with him.

He's always polite and caring towards me which means so much. It's surprising that considering how stressed I am, that I haven't cried. So what I mean by what would a Psychiatrist do and how would they comfort a patient in distress, is would they try and reassure them/tell them it's okay to cry, things like that?

Or if in person would they hold the patient's hand, perhaps hug them, give them tissues? I've never actually met my Psychiatrist in person because he's in Sydney and I'm in regional Victoria, so it's about a 6 hour drive, not sure how long to fly. But I would like to try and arrange to see him in person one day for an appointment, do you think he'd do that? I don't see why not because after all I'm still a patient of his.

My apologies for these stupid questions. Maybe one day I'll cry because I'm pretty sensitive and weak, and see the outcome. With the vibe I get from him with his caring, kind, professional manner, I think he'd just hug me and give me a tissue or hold my hand in person, and try to make me feel better (he tries to make me feel better anyway).

I'd appreciate if people can answer this, and not judge please. I know they're silly questions and I'm sorry 😞 Please help.

Thank you,

Tayla xx

[monkey_magic]

Hi Tayla,

I think it's really good that you've found a professional that you are comfortable with and can open up to because that can be hard to find.

In my experience when crying to professionals they've simply handed me a tissue. No touching my hand or hugging just listening.
I think some ppl could take touching the wrong way and so it's probably avoided in most cases.

Again I'm glad you have found a great fit for you. And your questions isn't silly.

MMx

[Guest_4643]

Hi monkey_magic, thanks for your reply. I appreciate it.

I'm glad that I found him too, and believe me I know how hard it is.

Yeah I was thinking about that, everyone's different including therapists and other professionals and I respect that. For me I just feel like he'd be that type of guy, but I've never seen him in person because it's too far away but if you think about it, Telehealth (Skype) is pretty much the same sort of.

If I saw him in person I guess I'd try and ask for a hug or something but I'd also be too scared and be mindful and respectful, plus certain rules. I'm mindful of all that so all good, I understand your point and certain rules etc. I was just curious.

Thanks again, and I do feel like these are silly questions and a pointless post, but I was just curious to see people's answers since everyone may have different answers and opinions. I guess we'll see.

I'm glad I've found a great Psychiatrist too and I hope you can find some support here on these forums and other websites similar to BB and professionals, if you haven't already and if you're interested in that.

I'm here to chat and try to support you and everyone I try and talk to in any way that I can on these forums, I'll do my best.

Thanks again for your reply and not judging.

Please take care, I hope you're alright xx

Tayla xo

[monkey_magic]

Hey Tayla,

Thanks for your heartfelt reply. Yes I have definitely felt supported here at BB, I've been here for a few years now.

I actually saw my psychiatrist today but didn't get the result I wanted. I'm on forced treatment and am trying to get out of it. It could happen in time, trying to stay positive.

I usually find GP's a better support than psychiatrists and you've found the opposite. I would love to find a good psychiatrist that can help me..

I don't see the harm in asking for a hug. I think human affection is important . I wonder what the regulations are.

I've read some of your other posts so I'm getting to know you. Hopefully life in the small town improves. Must be tough not being able find anywhere to even volunteer. Trust me this stage won't be your forever life.

I'm a 37 yr old female btw and that 🐒 monkey is scented, given to me by a close friend.

[Guest_4643]

Hi again,

Thanks for your reply again also. I appreciate it, and you're welcome for me replying to you.

I'm glad you've found support at BB, that's great to hear, but I'm so sorry that you've had a bad Psychiatrist. I was lucky, without trying to brag, this Psychiatrist is the first one I've seen and in the first session I knew he was the right therapist for me.

I get your point about the GP, but unfortunately I've never felt as close to a GP as I do with this Psychiatrist, which is odd. Yeah my GP is good but not as helpful as my Psychiatrist, that's how I feel at least anyway. Everyone's different.

I really hope you can find a good Psychiatrist and/or other therapist, I'm so sorry that you've been through all of that. If it makes you feel any better, I know how you feel with bad professionals, that's what's happened with previous Psychologists I've had to the point I've given up with them, and the rude guy on the phone at the local triage I called yesterday. He refused to help and speak to me and that's the first time I've contacted a triage so that was upsetting and hurtful. Not sure why he was like that, I was polite to him and just asked if I could come in for some support. I asked my Psychiatrist this before I spoke to them.

yeah I guess if I ever see him in person for a session I could try and ask, but who knows if that will happen. He's in Sydney and I'm in Regional VIC, so that's a 6 hour drive, not sure how long to fly. But I'd like to go for a bit of a holiday to Sydney sometime and try to see if he'd book me in for a face to face session, but that's fine either way. Seems like a nice place.

As for the regulations, I'm not too sure what they are, but like you mentioned, I understand that they're afraid of breaking the patient's personal space and in fear of doing something wrong for people who don't like affection and being touched etc because of trauma. Totally understandable, and quite sad really. But every patient and therapist is different, it depends. I just think he may be friendly enough to hug and hold my hand or another patients. I know it's an awkward question, my apologies. I don't mean it in a creepy and odd way, so I'm sorry about that. Just curious to see people's different answers.

Thanks for reading my other posts, I also appreciate that. Thank you, I hope it improves for me too, and I really hope things improve for you also. Best of luck with everything, please take care. I'm thinking of you.

And nice about the username.

Tayla

[Elizabeth CP]

I saw my psychologist yesterday. I've seen him for years. I broke down & struggled to speak because I was so upset. He got me tissues & sat & waited until I was ready to talk. He will shake my hand at the end of a session but no other physical contact. I think is is strongly discouraged because of the risk of mixed messages. I definitely felt he catered about me, was listening & genuinely wanted to understand my point of view so he could help. When I've been unable to see him I have had phone sessions but I find the face to face better because we can both see each other & sense what we are each thinking. Even when I couldn't talk being in the room with him the message came across strongly that he was concerned for me but not impatient which allowed me to pull myself together without feeling pressured.

[iamanxiety]

Hi Tayla,

I looked for your post as I was talking to Katy.

interesting question. in general I think most professionals would try and keep physical contact to a minimum even if they wanted to hug or console you by holding hands it could lead to potential for some mixed signals .

it's great you found someone you gell with. it is really hard trial and error for some of us. don't be disheartened if you don't get a hello hug, he may just want to keep it looking professional.

all the best

Andrew

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hello

Yes, I think there are professional boundaries that need to be maintained. I've never had physical contact with any of the mental health professionals that I've spoken to. When I cry at my sessions (which is often), my psych will offer a tissue, lower her voice, let me take my time, and maybe offer words of comfort, but never is there physical contact of any kind. My lady is wonderful and I love hugs, but I don't think it would be appropriate in this kind of setting.

Kind thoughts, Katy

[Guest_4643]

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for your reply.

thats good that you have a good Psychologist. I'm glad to hear that and that they're caring and supportive towards you.

i completely understand the professionalism, rules and all of that involved and respecting people's wishes and personal space. I'm not one to push that stuff or anything bad like that, I was just curious, I have no idea why it's been on my mind lately, that's just my weird mind. Not trying to be awkward and creepy. I apologise. I know they're silly questions that are unnecessary to ask and answer.

I do see my Psychiatrist through Telehealth which is Skype, which my GP referred me to, and I chose my psychiatrist myself, since he works for this company through the Telehealth but he has his own private practice where he does the sessions with, does that make sense? I'm not sure how else to explain it, sorry, but that's how it works.

So in other words I've never seen him in person, but I'm sure he'd do a professional "hello, goodbye, take care" handshake like most people do, professionals or not. He works in Sydney and I live in Regional Victoria, so that's a 6 hour drive from me, not sure how long by flight.

I'm sure that if I was in Sydney for something like a holiday and I told him and requested an appointment or had one booked that he'd see me in person if I let him know and explained, what do you think? After all I'm still one of his patients but I completely understand that also. Plus I don't see me going up to Sydney anytime soon although it would be nice just in general. I don't see why he wouldn't.

sorry again for this confusing and pointless thread. but thanks for the reply.

Tayla

[Guest_4643]

Hi there Andrew. You actually have the same first name as my Psychiatrist, now isn't that ironic? Haha.

but thanks for your reply. thanks also for thinking that it's an interesting question. If anything I think it's stupid, pointless and unnecessary to ask and answer and fairly obvious. I'm not sure why it's been on my mind lately because I know it's weird, I was just curious to see what people say really.

I've been beating myself up a lot after posting this actually and regretting it. I'm trying to tell myself that I was just trying to get people's opinions in a nice way, not be creepy or awkward, but I feel like it was all of that, I apologise.

but I do completely understand and respect them being professional, respecting people's space, worried about mixed signals and all of that, believe me I do. I totally get all of that 110%.

i haven't seen my Psychiatrist face to face, I do it on Telehealth which is Skype so I've never had the chance to meet him in person. He's in Sydney and I'm in Regional VIC, so it's a 6 hour drive, not sure how long by plane. But I'm sure if I did meet him in person that he'd give me a handshake to say hi, bye, take care kind of thing like most people do to be friendly, professional or not. Which is totally fine on both ends I think. I've had other professionals shake my hand before i even knew him and started seeing him on Telehealth and none of that was a problem but everyone's different, patients and professionals. I respect and understand all of that completely too.

but yes you're right, it's such a relief for me finding him as my Psychiatrist. he's the first psychiatrist ive seen and I knew in the first session that he was good and he still is. Everything I've looked for in a therapist - kind, funny, professional, caring, helpful, actually wants to help me not just prescribe me stuff, all of that. Never rude. always explains things to me so I understand, uses good analogies and asks me I feel things make sense. He also asks if I have anything I'd like to discuss and never makes me feel rushed, and I always have his full attention and he has mine. I don't feel pushed away like I have with other professionals. All of that and him as my therapist means a lot and has helped me since I've had bad therapists apart from him. I'm thankful.

I'm sure if I did somehow see him in person if I was in Sydney (which I doubt will happen, maybe one day?) I'm sure he'd let me visit, I'm still a patient right?

Thanks again, take care.

Tayla